MONROE - For the past 50 years, Wisconsin was able to accomplish great things in the fields of education, the environment and clean government because both Democrats and Republicans worked together.
Things have slowly changed, and not for the better. But there is hope for the future.
That was the message Thursday night from former Wisconsin Gov. Tony Earl to a crowd of about 50 people at the Monroe Arts Center. Earl, a Democrat who served as governor from 1983 to 1986, said it was bipartisanship that helped make the University of Wisconsin a success.
"Whether it's stem cell research or volunteers to the Peace Corps, the University of Wisconsin has led the way," Earl said.
He also talked about the increase in vocational education and how it's helped put people to work.
Earl said Wisconsin was one of the leaders when it came to the environment.
"We adopted our own version of environmental laws and we enforced them," he said. "A lot of states followed our example."
Another success of both political parties working together was fiscal responsibility.
"A balanced budget was always taken as a given," he said.
But somewhere along the line things changed, he said.
The recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race showed how much things had changed.
"Millions were spent by outside groups. There was a lot of mud-slinging and special interest groups were saying things that were wildly off the mark," he said.
The past three or four elections have shown that a third of legislative seats are ceded to the Democrats, a third to Republicans and the rest are up for grabs. The parties have become more polarized, Earl said.
"Political parties went to the right and left and special interest groups took over what used to be the middle ground," he said. And representatives went from part-time to full-time legislators, he added.
"Many of them began as an aide and then ran for office when their bosses moved on. That led to a lack of civility.
"They don't have any real-life experiences."
There is a way to change things in Madison, Earl said. People need to get involved.
"It used to be that campaigns were done door-to-door and at church picnics," he said. "People took an interest in their candidate's success.
"Politics can't be a spectator sport. It might sound idealistic, but people need to get more involved. And if I come back, maybe I can say 'See, things have changed.'"
Earl visited Monroe as part of the Monroe Arts Center's Distinguished Speaker Program. The free event at Gunderson Stiles Concert Hall was part of Monroe's sesquicentennial celebration.
Things have slowly changed, and not for the better. But there is hope for the future.
That was the message Thursday night from former Wisconsin Gov. Tony Earl to a crowd of about 50 people at the Monroe Arts Center. Earl, a Democrat who served as governor from 1983 to 1986, said it was bipartisanship that helped make the University of Wisconsin a success.
"Whether it's stem cell research or volunteers to the Peace Corps, the University of Wisconsin has led the way," Earl said.
He also talked about the increase in vocational education and how it's helped put people to work.
Earl said Wisconsin was one of the leaders when it came to the environment.
"We adopted our own version of environmental laws and we enforced them," he said. "A lot of states followed our example."
Another success of both political parties working together was fiscal responsibility.
"A balanced budget was always taken as a given," he said.
But somewhere along the line things changed, he said.
The recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race showed how much things had changed.
"Millions were spent by outside groups. There was a lot of mud-slinging and special interest groups were saying things that were wildly off the mark," he said.
The past three or four elections have shown that a third of legislative seats are ceded to the Democrats, a third to Republicans and the rest are up for grabs. The parties have become more polarized, Earl said.
"Political parties went to the right and left and special interest groups took over what used to be the middle ground," he said. And representatives went from part-time to full-time legislators, he added.
"Many of them began as an aide and then ran for office when their bosses moved on. That led to a lack of civility.
"They don't have any real-life experiences."
There is a way to change things in Madison, Earl said. People need to get involved.
"It used to be that campaigns were done door-to-door and at church picnics," he said. "People took an interest in their candidate's success.
"Politics can't be a spectator sport. It might sound idealistic, but people need to get more involved. And if I come back, maybe I can say 'See, things have changed.'"
Earl visited Monroe as part of the Monroe Arts Center's Distinguished Speaker Program. The free event at Gunderson Stiles Concert Hall was part of Monroe's sesquicentennial celebration.